–FO condemns peremptory Indian order for visiting Pakistanis
Pakistan nationals in Rajasthan’s Bikaner have been asked to leave the city within 48 hours, the district magistrate said in an order on Monday, NDTV reported.
Following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on February 14, in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the Bikaner administration has issued a list of orders under Section 144 of CrPC.
The orders, effective immediately, prohibit hotels and lodges of the district from allowing Pakistani citizens to check-in.
Indian citizens have been asked not to employ any Pakistani citizens and not have any direct or indirect business relationship with the neighbouring country.
“In the matter of receiving spoof calls from Pakistan, no citizen through any medium of telecommunication will exchange any kind of army or sensitive information to unknown persons. Any person of Bikaner district will not use sim cards registered in Pakistan,” according to the order.
The order is applicable for two months, but would not be applicable to Pakistan citizens who have registered with the foreigners’ registration officer, the district administration said.
FO CONDEMNS INDIAN ORDER:
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan has condemned India’s order for visiting Pakistanis to leave the country.
“Indian peremptory order for visiting Pakistanis to leave Rajasthan in 48 hours and prohibiting hotels from accommodating them is a condemnable reflection of Indian jingoism and hate mongering spurred on by election histrionics,” said FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.
He said the move exposed “sham facade of Indian hospitality and tourism friendliness”.
“We expect India to comply with inter-state norms, and ensure absolute safety and security of all Pakistanis there,” the spokesman said.
On Friday, India withdrew the Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan — a day after the Pulwama terror attack.
Earlier on February 14, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora area of the Pulwama district which resulted in the death of 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
The attack has sparked widespread calls in India for action against Pakistan with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is facing an election later this year, pledging a strong response and saying he would “give the military free rein”.